Gojira to Release “Powerful” New Album in 2026

Gojira plan to release a new album in 2026, marking the acclaimed French metal band’s first LP since 2021’s Fortitude. The news comes courtesy of a new interview with drummer Mario Duplantier

While Gojira could have quickly capitalized on the worldwide attention they received after last year’s mind-blowing performance of the song “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)” at the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris, the band chose to take its time to perfect the forthcoming album.

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“It took us a long time,” Duplantier told Bloodstock TV of the creative process for the upcoming LP (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “We needed that time, I think, just to make sure we are all on the same page, make sure what Gojira is bringing next is strong enough. Also, we don’t have that much pressure. We are not a young band anymore. We’re not like Sleep Token or Lorna Shore where the next album is so important. We’ve been a band for 30 years, so Gojira is already an established band.”

He continued, “It doesn’t mean that we can be lazy — it doesn’t mean that — but it’s very crucial to take the time to bring something fresh and new and powerful. For the new songs, we took so much time just to make sure everything is fine and powerful enough and, I don’t know, smart enough, as well. But it’s on the way, it’s on the way. 2026, for sure.”

The aforementioned “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)” won the 2025 Grammy for Best Metal Performance, and was named Heavy Consequence‘s No. 1 metal/hard rock song of 2024. Duplantier, meanwhile, landed at No. 56 on Consequence‘s list of the 100 Best Drummers of All Time.

Gojira will embark on a Canadian tour supporting Korn in September, as well as play a headlining show in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 23rd and the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California, on October 4th. Tickets to their upcoming concerts are available here.

Watch Mario Duplantier’s interview with Bloodstock TV below.